finance assistant

9 Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
Location: St Albans
Salary: Up £33,000 / £34,000 per annum DOE
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

The Opportunity
Our client, a well established and highly respected organisation based in St Albans, is seeking a Finance Assistant to join their busy finance team on a 9 month maternity cover contract.
Reporting directly to the Head of Finance, you will play a key role in supporting the day to day financial management of the business, working closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure the finance function operates efficiently and accurately.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Finance Assistant looking for a varied role with responsibility across all areas of finance.

Key Responsibilities
Supporting the Head of Finance with the day to day running of the finance function
Updating financial spreadsheets and maintaining accurate financial records
Preparing monthly management reports and profit and loss schedules
Completing daily and monthly bank reconciliations
Preparing and submitting VAT returns
Processing tax payments as instructed
Recording monthly payroll entries and payroll journals
Processing pension payments and maintaining associated records
Processing supplier invoices and liaising with suppliers where required
Assisting with budget preparation
Supporting the annual audit process
Monitoring fees against targets and producing financial reports
Processing and authorising bank transfers
Producing reports and analysing financial data using Microsoft Excel
Using Excel functions including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and other advanced formulas
Assisting with the development and maintenance of finance procedures and policies
Providing support to senior management and colleagues across the business

Skills and Experience
Previous experience within a Finance Assistant or similar accounts position
AAT Level 2 or equivalent finance or bookkeeping qualification would be advantageous
Strong knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting procedures
Previous experience with month end journals, reconciliations and management reporting
Experience preparing VAT returns
Payroll administration experience
Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and reporting functions
Experience using accounting or practice management software would be beneficial
Excellent organisational and time management skills
High level of accuracy with strong attention to detail
Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
Strong written and verbal communication skills
A positive, flexible and proactive approach to work
Ability to maintain complete confidentiality when handling financial information

Salary and Benefits
£33,000 to £34,000 per annum
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
9 Month Fixed Term Contract
Office based in St Albans
Opportunity to work closely with an experienced Head of Finance
Varied and rewarding role within a supportive and professional finance team
Opportunity to work 1 day from home after completion of probation

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy, advertised by SMT Recruitment (Smart10 Ltd), acting as an employment agency/business. Your application will be considered alongside others, and we will contact you within three working days if you are shortlisted.
SMT Recruitment is a multi-award-winning specialist recruitment consultancy providing temporary, contract, and permanent recruitment solutions across selected business sectors. To stay up to date with our latest opportunities, please visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn. Please refer to SMT's Privacy Policy for details on how we manage your data.